Holders for safety razor blades



Inventor Attorney April 10, 1956 R. E. CARTER HOLDERS FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Filed March 24, 1950 F/GZ.

v a blade into the slotted end of the holder.

HOLDERS FOR SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Reginald Edward Carter, Shirley, England Application March 24, 1950, Serial No. 151,791

2 Claims. (Cl. 30-329) This invention relates to holders for safety'razor blades whereby to provide a cutting tool for many purposes, and more especially for small model making, dissecting, preparation of samples for microscopic examination and the like, requiring accuracy and precision. The invention is intended more especially (although not exclusively) for use with blades having only a single cutting edge, such as those known under the registered trade marks valet, Corrux, Wilkinson, Rolls and the like.

The invention consists in a holder for a safety razor blade comprising a tube longitudinally slotted to receive one edge of the blade.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description of one form (given, however, merely by way of example) which it may assume, and this description will be more readily followed by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 represents in perspective a razor blade holder, with cover guard, according to the invention; and

Figures 2a2i represent the separated parts of the assembled tool shown in Figure 1.

In carrying the invention into efiect in one convenient manner as shown in the drawings herewith a holder for a safety razor blade comprises a metal tube 1 of any suitable length the whole or part of which is longitudinally slotted, as at 2, and a portion of which has formed thereon a handle 3. The slot 2 may be somewhat longer than a blade 4 to be fitted therein. The tube may, if desired, be internally grooved opposite to the slot 2, as at 5, in order to form a seat for receiving the rear edge of the blade 4. The tube l is preferably of tempered spring steel or other resilient material, and the slot 2 is narrower than the thickness of blade 4. The corners of the slot and the end of the tube may be rounded as shown to facilitate insertion of the blade 4 which is forced into the slot, with the rear edge of the blade against the remote inner surface of the tube 1 (and in the groove 5, if provided). Owing to the narrowness of the slot 2, and the resilience of the tube 1, the blade is held firmly in this position by friction.

In order to facilitate removal of a blade from the slot 2 there is provided an ejector 6 (Figure 2i) in the form of a rod or tube of suitable diameter to slide into the tube 1 from the rear end. The ejector, after complete removal from the holder, may also be used as an ejector for loading One end of this ejector is forked, as at 7, allowing it to be inserted fully into the tube 1, even when a blade is held in slot 2, by ensuring that the two limbs of the fork 7 project, inside the tube 1, on opposite sides of the inserted blade. The opposite end of the ejector 6 has formed thereon a knob or shaped block 8 forming an end extension of the handle 3. The handle 3 and block 8 may conveniently be formed of a synthetic resin moulded on to the tube 1 and ejector 6 respectively. In cross section the handle 3 and block 8 are preferably substantially elliptical. As shown i. e. each has a longitudinal projecting side portion with convergent sides so that when a holder, with a blade fitted United States Patent 1O therein, is rested lengthwise on a flat surface it cannot stand, without support, in a position with the blade erect, but will roll over until the cutting edge of the blade rests on the flat surface. To facilitate this rolling action and for convenience of grip the handle is enlarged, as shown towards its free extremity, on the'same side of the handle axis as the blade slot (and any blade projecting therefrom) and the end surface of the block 8 may be curved and/or shaped oif at an oblique angle in order to fit the palm of the users hand.

In order to remove a blade from the slot 2 the ejector 6 is withdrawn rearwardly until the fork 7 is free of the inserted blade 4 inside the tube 1,,and then rotated by a sutficient amount upto so that the fork 7 extends transversely of the blade. When the ejector is then forced inwards it drives the blade 4 almost completely out of the slotted tube 1, allowing it to be readily gripped between the operato'rs fingers and finally withdrawn. The ejector is then again rotated in reverse sense by a sufiicient amount so that the fork 7 is aligned with the slot 2 (and groove 5 if provided) allowing another blade to be in'-.

serted.

For protection when the tool is not in use there is provided a cover guard 9 for the blade and the portion of the holder in which it is fitted. This guard is adapted to slide telescopically over the end of the tube 1 and is shaped also to cover the blade fitted therein, as seen in Figure 1. Means are provided to lock the guard in position, and it may be provided with a pocket clip, as shown, to allow it to be secured in a users pocket.

One convenient construction of the guard will be understood by reference to Figures 2a-2f showing the separate parts thereof. A sleeve 10 (Figure 2e) is adapted to slide telescopically on to the tube 1 and is longitudinally slotted at 11. The cover proper (Figure 2d is preferably of sheet metal folded, and joined by a channel strip secured to its folded edges, to form a key-hole cross-section, of which the cylindrical portion 12 is of suitable diameter to fit tightly and permanently upon the sleeve 10, with its longitudinal gap 13 in line with slot 11, while the projecting plate portions 14 are of suitable size and spacing to encase the projecting portion of a blade fitter into tube 1. The top edge of the portion 12 of the cover is aligned with the top edge of sleeve 10, which is of sufiicient length to project below the cover portion 12 where there is mounted thereon a longitudinally slotted collar 15 (Figure 2]). The base of the sleeve 10 is flanged to hold on the collar 15 which is loose, and rotatable thereon.

It will be seen that since the slot 11 of sleeve 10 is in alignment with the gap 13 of the cover 12, the collar 15 can be rotated until its slot is in line with slot 11 and the whole cover assembly can then be fitted on to, and over, tube 1 and a blade fitted therein, to form a complete guard. In this position the collar 15 is below the blade, and can be rotated to close the bottom of slot 11.

To facilitate operation the outer surface of the collar 15 may be knurled as shown (Figure 2 and to prevent accidental release of the lock one or more dimpled indents 16 in the collar 15 may engage one or other of the like dimpled indents in sleeve 10.

The top of the cover guard is preferably closed and for that purpose there may be provided a metal annulus 17 with a projecting lug 18 (Figure 2c). The annulus 17 is centrally screw threaded, and is of external diameter to fit into the top of sleeve 10. The undersurface of lug 18 is stepped round the edge to fit into and on the upper edges of the adjacent plate portions 14 of the cover. Three small equi'spaced lugs or abutments 19 are intur'ned at the top edge of sleeve 10, and the edge of annulus 17 is chamfered away at three corresponding points. The annulus 17 is inserted beneath the lugs 19, and the stepped lug 18 is fitted to the gap between plate portions 14 of the coirer. -A ring .withdownwardly'p rojet'ing spring pocketclip 200i conventionalform (Figure 2b)v ispositioned on the lugs 19 of sleeve 10 and a dome-headed (or other shape) screw 21 (Figure 2a) extending through this ring engageswith the" screw threaded, aperture of annulus 17 thus'gripping {the annulus and ring tpgether'bn opposite sidesofrthe"lugs;19 ;to;hold the' closure inembers of the cover-guard firmlyinposition. v t. L e.

i It should be understood that'theinve' tion isnot limited solely, to the details of they-forms idescribed aboileawhich mayfberriodified in' order :to meet various conditions and requirements encoiinter'edwithout: departing in: any, .'way from the scope of the invention 'as defined in 'theappendant claims.

-WhatIelaimis: r r

l. I A 'holdefforreceiving-a safety-razor blade to form a cutting tool comprising a spring-metal tub'ehas ing', fat oneend and in 'one side bn'ly, a lon'gitudinal slotei'tfndii'ig for 'a shortdistance'frointhe end of the tubjeQforireceivin g" and gripping 'a' "saf ety razor blade, anda blade-ejector in the form data l odfof circularfcross-section of greater length than the 'iin slotted len'gth' of said t'ube,"adapt eid to be inserted telescopically intb said'tube and to Be'hoii'sd therein when a "razor-blade is grippedi'n said slot, the inner end bf'stidriid'b'eiri'g'forked to extend internally iiitdtii'e lotid r'iigih "6t said tube 'aiid' there to extend ,on opposite sides of a razor blade when gripped in said slot.

2. A holder for receivig a safety-razor blade to form a cutting tool as claimed in claim 1, including a handle formed on the unslotted length of said tube, said handle having a longitudinally projecting side portion with convergent sides, said projecting side portion being substantially in line with said razor blade when the latter is grippe d in said slot.

n''r'renesciia in the "file of this pa tent UNITED STATES "PATENTS 5,827 Sifiith- Oct. 3, 1848 311,466 Brokhalme Feb. 3, 1885 356,453 COX Jan. 25, 1887 790,439 Kampfe May 23, 1905 323 714 SP PP D 4, .r1. new fi J y 5, .122 1,574,665 v ie' in Feb. 23,1925 7: ?P 2 92 6 H m l uly 4, 3, 5,1 f i g g 7 L 19 5 ,SIPPP-r E 1.1 45 2,372,280 Johnston Mar. 27,1945 

